Professional Financial Planning is the process which aims to help you realise your ambitions - whatever they may be. As professional financial advisers we can help you make informed decisions about your financial future, short, medium and long term.

You will almost certainly have plans of one kind or another - buying a home, starting a family, living abroad, perhaps retiring, but such ...

When you retire you still need food and shelter as an absolute minimum, but of course you will want to maintain the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed, so unless you can guarantee a large windfall, you need to provide yourself with a secure income for the rest of your life.

A well prepared pension plan which is regularly reviewed should go some way to providing this.

When someone talks about savings and saving money, it could be referring to a piggy bank or a high interest deposit account. Savings are effectively cash or cash instruments, such as deposit accounts, term bonds etc.

Investing is what you do with the savings you have - if you are looking to generate a greater return on your money than is available to you through your savings instruments.

Your mortgage is probably the largest financial transaction and commitment you are likely to undertake. Surely then you should seek mortgage advice which is individually tailored to your needs and requirements?

We are not tied to any particular lender, which means that we have the ability to act on your behalf, representing your best interests, in order to establish the most appropriate mortgage solution for you.

Wealth, just like your health, must be carefully preserved. Your assets need to be protected against the potential threats of erosion by taxation, the effects of inflation and investment risks.

Whatever your level of wealth, there is nothing wrong in deciding to prepare a risk aversion strategy. This is reasonable and prudent for anyone who is sure that they already have ample to provide for themselves and their family into the future.

If you're over the age of 55, equity release offers you a way to use the value of your home to raise money.

There is a range of equity release schemes available on the market offered by reputable equity release providers, and they fall into two main categories, Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans. Each type of equity release scheme facilitates a different method of releasing the equity in your home.

Most of us face being taxed on our income, our capital gains, and in some circumstances the value of our estate when we die.

Taxation can be very complicated and the rules, reliefs and allowances often change, so it is worth obtaining a clear grasp of how these taxes work by discussing with a professional adviser the most efficient way to arrange your finances. An expert will be able to help you plan your taxes in advance ...

The main purpose of Life Assurance is to provide money for those people who may depend on you financially, in the event that something should happen to you. These people could include family members or business partners.

A Life Assurance policy pays out a sum of money when the person who is covered by the plan dies. The money is intended to pay off any outstanding debts and support your dependants ...

This is an area of financial planning that is often overlooked. Traditionally, we have our buildings and contents insurance with our mortgage lenders, which may be uncompetitive in a very competitive marketplace. It may also be the case that a property may be underinsured, due to decoration, extension or the increase in house prices.

All businesses are exposed to risks in their day-to-day operations. Without business insurance cover to provide protection against some of these risks, businesses would find it difficult to operate efficiently and profitably.
Adequate business insurance is therefore not a luxury - it is an absolute necessity.Read More

Health Insurance is probably one of the most important types of insurance you can own. Without it, an illness or accident can have serious long-term financial implications for you and your family.

Most people will be aware that Health Insurance can cover the cost of private medical treatment for any acute conditions you may suffer in the future - from something as simple as a broken bone to more serious conditions like a heart attack or cancer.

Level Term

Level Term Assurance

This type of cover protects you for a given term for a fixed benefit. The amount of life cover chosen at the outset will be paid whether a claim on death is made in the first year of the term or the last year. Quite often a payment would be made on the diagnosis of a terminal illness before the last 18 months of the plan, where you had 12 months or less to live. This type of protection may be suitable for family protection and Interest Only Mortgage debt, where the level of debt on the mortgage does not decrease as the years progress, however, this would depend on individual circumstances and you should seek further advice.

Level Term Assurance

This type of cover protects you for a given term for a fixed benefit. The amount of life cover chosen at the outset will be paid whether a claim on death is made in the first year of the term or the last year. Quite often a payment would be made on the diagnosis of a terminal illness before the last 18 months of the plan, where you had 12 months or less to live. This type of protection may be suitable for family protection and Interest Only Mortgage debt, where the level of debt on the mortgage does not decrease as the years progress, however, this would depend on individual circumstances and you should seek further advice.

Provides a lump sum on death or terminal illness to help provide a financial buffer for your family or to pay off debts

The level of cover remains the same throughout the term of the policy

The policy pays out if you die during the term of the policy or if, before the last 18 months of the term, you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. (A terminal illness means you are not expected to live for more than 12 months)

Life insurance policies will only pay out once within the agreed time, so if the policy pays out because of a terminal illness claim, the policy and cover will end

Paying out on diagnosis of terminal illness may be proportionate to the level of cover under a death claim

Please be aware that in some cases this type of assurance is based on an assessment of the health of the applicant.

THE PLAN WILL HAVE NO CASH IN VALUE AT ANY TIME AND WILL CEASE AT THE END OF THE TERM. IF PREMIUMS ARE NOT MAINTAINED, THEN COVER WILL LAPSE.

Life Assurance

Mortgages

Mortgages are loans which are intended to help buyers purchase residential and commercial property. When an individual takes out a loan, the lender charges interest: the same is true of a mortgage.
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Savings & Investments

Tax Planning

Most of us face being taxed on our income, our capital gains, and in some circumstances the value of our estate when we die. Taxation can be very complicated and the rules, reliefs and allowances ...
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A summary of our internal complaints handling procedures for the reasonable and prompt handling of complaints is available on request and if you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk or by contacting them on 0800 023 4567.